A golden sword!

[Estaog]

A golden sword stuck in a pillar shaped stone. I did this for practice with my tablet, and it looks very empty.

[Privateer Puddin']

looks empty? it IS empty!

my ideas : draw some brown of the tree, fading out to black, some kinda vegetation? clouds? non gradient sky? stone is making a shadow but not the sword? (even if it is just an object to be picked up, you can script a shadow on and off i guess)

tree also looks like its there just to take up space, rather than give a feel for depth and surroundings.

[DanClarke]

try to make the pedestal a bit more central to the scene, if this is to be an important item (golden swords usually are as an unwritten rule) then, the scene probably needs to be displayed with a little more importance than it does at the moment.

Id also suggest shrouding the pedestal in trees or some sort of covering, because it looks a little 'too' easy to find at tthe moment (in that it just looks like its in some random field)

Keep at it.

[Abisso]

For the style: the grass isn't realistic, you must use a texture for it. And you need to lower the rock, in my opinion (put it nearer to the bottom of the screen).

Anyway, I suggest you to change your mind, if you thought to use this idea in a game. The weapon in the rock...It's overused and a cliche' too. And the sword it's too common, as a weapon!
I suggest a golden axe, instead. 

[Babar]

Or a golden stick-with-a-nail!
Not so sure about MUST use a texture. However, I do agree that right now the ground looks like a flat green metal sheet.
I agree with DanClarke though. For "Screen with the sword", there needs to be a lot more atmosphere. Ever play "Legend of Zelda: A Link to the past"? It had such a screen, with wonderful atmosphere. You wouldn't need to copy the exact graphics, it could just give you some ideas. A dark mysterious forest would be a good idea (many more trees!), with the pedestal having neat chiseled writing and weird symbols. I wish I had a screenshot to show you. You wouldn't need to copy the exact graphics, it could just give you some ideas
Whew... at least you reminded me of it. I'll have to get the ol' SNES out to play it again now.

[MrColossal]

http://herculeaneffort.adventuredevelopers.com/tutorials/ian/background.html

maybe this will help a little?

[Estaog]

Is that it?

Omg that tutorial looks like it was made for me, looks exactly like my picture. That will help a lot, thanks.